Exxon Mobil to pay California penalties; Texas proposes fine

Exxon Mobil reaches deal over California air violations

Published 5:30 am, Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Exxon Mobil Corp. has agreed to pay $400,000 in penalties to California for air-permit violations at its biggest West Coast refinery.

Irving-based Exxon Mobil also agreed to spend up to $2 million on a plan to cut excessive emissions of carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds and other pollutants from its Torrance plant, the company said Tuesday in a public filing.

And in Texas, the state's Commission on Environmental Quality proposed a $136,200 penalty for alleged violations of health, safety and water codes at Exxon Mobil's Beaumont refinery, according to the filing.

Exxon Mobil was accused of failing to comply with permit requirements for storage-tank maintenance at Beaumont. The matter has been referred to the commission's litigation group, according to the filing.

A March 22 failure in a sulfur-recovery unit at the Torrance plant triggered shutdowns of other refining equipment and the release of nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide and other substances, Exxon Mobil said. The company agreed to a $250,000 penalty for the March incident.

Exxon Mobil paid an additional $150,000 to settle 23 air-permit and air-quality violations at the Torrance facility that occurred between Oct. 12, 2005, and Oct. 17, 2006, according to the filing. The settlements were reached with the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

The Torrance refinery can process 148,500 barrels of crude a day into gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other products, according to available data.